2016 Start of the Dog Days and Key Points for Orchid Care After It Begins

The start of the Dog Days (ru fu) refers to the first day of the three fu periods, marking the official beginning of the hottest midsummer stage of the year. The three fu periods are divided into the first fu, the middle fu, and the last fu, generally falling between mid-July and mid-August on the Gregorian calendar. In 2016, the start of the Dog Days was July 17.

After the Dog Days begin, the weather generally takes on the characteristics of high temperature, high humidity, and muggy heat, with intense sunlight, frequent thunderstorms, and a noticeably narrowed temperature difference between day and night. Farming proverbs often say that the heat lies in the three fu periods; the climate conditions during this time are a considerable test for the growth of field crops, vegetables, and flowers.

For orchid growers, the focus of management after the Dog Days begin is shading, ventilation, and water control. When the light is too strong, shade netting should be added promptly to prevent the leaves from being scorched; the growing environment must maintain air circulation, as prolonged muggy and damp conditions can easily trigger diseases such as stem rot and soft rot. Watering should be scheduled in the early morning or evening, avoiding the high-temperature midday period, and the potting medium should be kept moist but not waterlogged.

Other crops also require meticulous management during the Dog Days. Pay attention to timely irrigation to combat drought, drain well after rain to prevent waterlogging, and strengthen the monitoring and control of pests and diseases. Knowing the start date of the Dog Days each year helps with arranging summer farming activities in advance and reducing losses caused by high-temperature weather.